Toy OTD: Character Options Ltd. Doctor Who 12" Action Figure: Cyber Leader (2007)

Since I've been writing on Facebook about my long-delayed introduction to Doctor Who (some of the older episodes and some of the new ones), I thought I'd write here about one of the toys I bought two years ago, long before I'd ever seen a single episode! Of course I bought one of the robot characters, since I don't need to know anything about one to like it.

The Cybermen have been part of Doctor Who for quite a while, so it makes sense that they'd be revived when the show returned to the airwaves. It follows too that, if there were going to be any Who toys, that the Cybermen would be naturals for new merchandise. So they're here, and boy, do they look spiffy!

I haven't seen the re-design on the actual program yet, but I'm still impressed with the new look - updated with a richer sense of detail without losing the overall feel of the original. There's an odd taper in the leg pieces that lend a knock-kneed look, but otherwise it looks cool! The plastic pieces are well-sculpted/cast, and the manufacturers went the extra mile for quality.

Rather than simply sculpting the limbs as pieces that mimic the body shapes, the 'metal body' parts are made to be hollow and 'worn' on an inner figure like a costume. This also allows for articulation that's better concealed than a solid action figure, and for more posability than it would have if it were a hollow vinyl one. There's even a fabric leotard to boost the costume feel!

The 'metallic' finish on the outer shell looks nice, and there's some light airbrushing to add a bit more texture. Other than that, there's very few paint apps on the toy. The chest plate opens up to reveal some inner workings, and it also comes with a small hand device of some sort. I'm assuming both of these are accurate and relevant to the show, since most of the figure seems fairly meticulous in execution - the casting in particular is tight and clean.

Balance is a minor issue - the toy stands well on its own, and you can always buy a doll stand to increase stability. I'd love for the figure to be packaged with one, but at least it's not as critical here.

The packaging has most of the pluses and minuses of a typical toy box - there's plenty of viewing space to check for paint glitches or casting problems, but the design itself is somewhat cluttered and not all that compelling. At least the inner clamshell is sturdy enough to protect the figure from damage.

There's also a standard Cyberman figure, too - there's not a lot of difference between them, aside from the lack of a removable chestplate and black helmet accents. For whatever reason, they're almost ten dollars cheaper than the "Cyber Leader" version.

Since this isn't a particularly old toy, finding one for sale isn't hard at all. There's multiple eBay auctions for this figure right now, with a price range of $30-$40.00. Toywiz.com also has one for sale that'll set you back $31.99 + shipping. Have fun!